Wieland to undergo "Tommy John" surgery

Padres manager Bud Black said Tuesday that Dr. Lewis Yocum of Los Angeles will perform the surgery sometime during the next two weeks.

The 22-year-old Wieland will become the second member of the Padres rotation and the third starting pitcher in the system to have “Tommy John” surgery. Left-handed starter Cory Luebke underwent the replacement of the ulnar collateral ligament earlier in the season as did left-handed prospect Juan Pablo Oramas.

Wieland was 0-4 with a 4.55 earned run average in five starts with the Padres when he went on the disabled list on May 8 with what was described as an elbow strain. He was rehabbing the injury at the Padres year-round training facility in Peoria, Ariz., earlier this month when he heard a “pop” in his elbow while approximately 25 pitches into a bullpen session.

The rehab for “Tommy John” surgery is 12-16 months, meaning Wieland will see little activity next season.

Wieland wasn’t the only Padre deciding to have surgery Tuesday.

Micah Owings, who is contemplating a career adjustment from pitcher to hitter/pitcher will have surgery to remove bone spurs and floating particles from his right elbow. He will be operated on by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., within the next week.

Including Wieland and Owings, the Padres have lost five pitchers to surgery this season. Right-handed starter Dustin Moseley also had surgery on his shoulder and rotator cuff on April 25.

Pitchers needed

When discussing the number of starting pitchers lost to injuries, Black recently referred to 2012 as “being a little like a lost year.”

Not only have the Padres lost six starters from the major league rotation (Luebke, Tim Stauffer, Wieland, Moseley, Eric Stults and Andrew Cashner), they have lost three top minor league starters (Casey Kelly, Robbie Erlin and Oramas) who might be pitching in San Diego had they not also been injured.

“Guys like Kelly and Erlin who would have been given a chance to show what they can do lost that opportunity,” said Black.

Kelly will throw a second simulated game Thursday in Arizona to test his elbow strain. Erlin is throwing in San Antonio. Stults could be ready to return from the disabled list next week. And Black is hopeful of getting Cashner and Stauffer (who throws a second bullpen Friday) back by mid-August.

Meantime, two pitchers who could interest the Padres were designated for assignment Tuesday – former Padre Justin Germano by the Red Sox and Jonathan Sanchez by the Kansas City Royals. Both will become free agents in 10 days unless they are claimed by other teams.

One for the books

The Padres were part of major league baseball history Monday night in their 2-0 loss to the Astros and Houston starter J.A. Happ. Houston came into Monday’s game winless in its last 13 road games. And Happ lost his last 11 decisions as a starter dating back to May of 2011.